Thursday, April 13, 2006

"Where can I go to talk more about veganism?"

As those of you who read the comments may have noticed, I decided to disallow anonymous posters. Some of us (vegan and not vegan) have been having a hard time getting along and being respectful of each other. Most of the nastier comments seem to be coming from anonymous posters, so I apologize to all the friendly, polite posters who will have to take the extra time to register. I hope you do, because I really do welcome friendly thoughts, comments, suggestions, and questions.

I believe in open debate about the larger issues of veganism. I just don't know if my lunch box blog is the place to have these big, worked-up discussions. Someone nicely suggested that I start a forum, but I've realized after reading all these posts that I don't have the time, Solomon-like wisdom, and thick skin that it would take to become a forum moderator.

There are some great discussion boards out there. VeggieBoards is a large group that I've heard good things about. Before I got busy with the Lunch Box, I used to hang out at Vegan Freaks and Post Punk Kitchen. Does anyone else have a favorite forum they would recommend?

43 comments:

Although I am not a vegan, I respect the vegan choice. Just thought I would hop over to let you know that the only bad comments I ever get on my own (definitely not vegan) food blog are from Anonymous commentors too, so I am thinking, now, that maybe I should follow your suit.

Lots of different discussions going on...I don't visit often, but some helpful information and both on and off topic discussions going on. Good info for new vegans (what is and isn't vegan and why and such.)

Great idea, Jennifer. I've never commented before, but I read your blog daily and I've been shocked at the kind of debate sparked by something as simple as a child's lunch box...clearly, the wrong forum for such debate. It's great to see such passionate people, but I, too, would like to see those discussions sparked in a more appropriate place.

Keep the great lunches coming!! I'm a new vegan and a summer camp counselor who is already starting to wonder what I'll pack myself for lunch this summer. Thanks for all the great ideas!

I have never seen any debate on here but I don't read comments or post them too often. I think its silly to debate on your blog and Im sorry it has happened :( BUT~ Keep that awsome lunch box comin' Im addicted!!! :) Happy day!

Jennifer, I think you've made a good decision. People just have to google vegan forum to come up with plenty of places for discussion. Personally, I find that many people use the internet as an excuse to vent whatever their particular venom or animosity is, and they feel no compunction to be civil, polite, compassionate, etc.. If one has to to identify oneself, one might tend to use more judgement. Good call!

This is a great vegan message board that tries to be accepting to all. The members are extremely nice and helpful. Ok, I just might be a bit biased as I'm a moderator but I wouldn't moderate somewhere where I was not comfortable. You don't have to be a dedicated vegan to join, just interested and open to veganism.

Thanks, Jennifer for a wonderful blog. I haven't seen any debates on your blog but I agree that this is not the place for it anyway. You do a wonderful service for vegans and non-vegans (and for your Shmoo).

Love your blog. If you're looking for a good forum try http://www.govegan.net/. It can get pretty heated there sometime but it's a great place to pick up tips on all things Vegan. It's how I found you actually.

Jennifer: I am a vegatarian. I have really enjoyed and appreciate the thoughtfulness you bring in a Vegan balanced approach. Thank you for giving everyone an oppourtunity and now an approprate outlet for their opinions and concerns.

I have trully enjoyed your creativity in new and different recipes. It gives me a "don't cook very often" person hope that cooking can be pretty easy and tasty.

I ran across your blog one day and have been lurking ever since. Reading your blog has not only made me make healthier choices for my own family but have also caused me to contemplate being vegan.

My son (7) has been a self proclaimed vegetarian since he was about 4. He has never really liked meat and I don't force it on him (although he does eat a few things every now and then). Reading your blog has helped me with ideas for his meals.

I just started a great vegan forum on Gather.com. You can check it out, there's actually a lot of awesome stuff there the group site is: http://vegetarianvegan.gather.com, there are also some great food blogs like http://foodtalk.gather.com. Anyway, its worth checking out! We could use more great people in my group! :D Registration is free, and you can also get points for posting stuff, which you can later redeem through their advertising partners, which is pretty cool. You can sign up here! Take care all - love your blog, ditto on the idea to get rid of anonymous posters!

You made a tough decision but it had to be made. You have been very generous with the time you have put into your blog as it is. Also, wouldn't want to take away from your spending time with little shmoo!

Personally, I have found nothing but frustration at vegan forums. Every one I've been on (which probably doesn't include the ones people have mentioned above) has been a magnet for staunch anti-vegans. No fun for anyone.

Why don't you post about VegFamily? Erin's magazine also has an online forum and it's very quiet (meaning, no debates) and supportive with very specific forums dedicated to both general vegan issues, dietary issues, and raising vegan/veggie fetuses (pregnancy), babies, children, and teens.

personally, in real life as well as online, i have found that (surprisingly) it's the more militant vegans who are unpleasant as opposed to meat eaters. i've come across a lot of vegans who think that it's 100% or nothing at all. i think veganism is about doing the best you can within your means. not about calling out other people over the fact that they're not as vegan as you (just to clarify, i'm NOT pointing fingers at anyone on here).

i frequent the veganism board "hosted" by jo stepaniak on vegsource.com because the people are all exceptionally kind. it's pretty much the only board i've ever been on where i haven't seen a "i'm more vegan than you" kind of post. also, for people on here for are new to veganism, you can get a lot of ideas of what to eat from that board. people regularly post their daily food logs, which is definitely neat.

In my long years as a "conscious" cook and eater, I've experimented with many different diet schemes: macrobiotics and Ayurveda among them, neither of which is vegan. I spent several years as a pure vegan and have written vegan cookbooks, but for most of my adult life I have been a lacto-ovo vegetarian who buys local and organically produced milk and eggs.

I've found that what is good for a person and good for the planet are extremely complex questions that can't be answered with a rigid set of rules. And if I had to name the biggest cause for what ails humanity, I would say violent arrogance --including unkind, self-righteous speech.

I'm sorry your wonderful blog has attracted such comments and definitely support you in preventing them. I don't accept anonymous comments at my blog, either, because of advertising spam showing up in my email box. There's a downside to this public forum, but the upside makes it worthwhile.

Like a few other posters here, I stumbled upon your blog by sheer accident. And I am so happy I did! While I am not a veggie or a vegan - I find that I rarely if ever order meat at restaurants (main reason - the mystery of where, excatly, it comes from on the cow, chicken, etc. . ) and choose veggie friendly options instead. . . I do eat poultry & seafood at home on occassion, but am finding that I am eating them less & less. My aunt has been a vegetarian since I was little & my mother is in the process of becoming a vegetarian for health reasons.

Your blog is truly inspiring! It has made me more conscious of the things I prepare for myself & reminds me of the days when my mom used to pack me creative lunches like you do for little shmoo!!! Keep up the great work!!!!

Hey Jennifer!! I was one of the people who questioned why you decided to block out annonymous posts. I understand why you would rather not be involved in senseless arguing and I didn't want to make it seem like I don't like your blog or support the vegan lifestyle. I too am a vegan and have been reading your blog since the third day you started posting! I love your blog, it has helped me make healthier lunches for myself and I will continue to read it. Thanx for all the inspiration and advice you give that makes the vegan diet alot easier!Once again I love your blog!! =)

I love your blog, and don't mind signing up to leave comments! I moderate the "Go Vegan!" tribe on tribe.net, http://vegan.tribe.net, and am also an active member of the Tofutti Cuties and Vegan Philosophy tribes. I like the fact that everyone in the discussions have faces and names, and that moderators have control over who can post. Disclaimer: I do work there, too.

cheeky! thanks for not forcing meat on your son - that rocks of you :)

i like veganforum and veggieboards. VB is more . . . discussion-y (sometimes sort of like what i'm sure ben has experienced) and VF seems a bit more tolerant of those who aren't completely vegan (interestingly enough).

i think it would be great if everyone were vegan, but i think anyone who takes steps toward that without full veganism is good :)

I can't believe no one mentioned vegweb.com. Did I miss it? I love that forum. It's well moderated, and all the recipes are vegan, but you don't have to be veggie at all to join. It's a very accepting community. :)

A lot of forums do go downhill as a result of omnis wanting debate. It is fine and well promoting debate, but the main problem is that there are a lot of people saying exactly the same thing.

The amount of times I've seen debators on forums link to the maddox article, believing it to be new information is getting ridiculous!

Most people don't want a debate, they want an argument, and the problem is that most veg*n forums exist so that veg*ns canexchange recipes, chat about vegetarian life in general, and stay away from having to defend their lives, and just live them.

I know that if someone wanted to debate veg*nism with me, much of the time I couldn't be bothered.

I think you've made a good decidion. This definitely isn't the place to debate. It's more a place to talk about food. I hope that any omnis in search of a debate find it, but somehow, I think taht there'll be one or two who won't be able to accept that this isn't the place for it.

I went and signed up to comment on your blog. It's worth the trouble, i always felt weird being annonymous anyways.

I just want to say that I love this site. My dad is close to vegan (McDougal if you know about that - if you don't he eats honey but not oil). My mom is a carnivore and I am a picky vegetarian. It's hard finding things for everyon te eat. Even HARDER- trying to agree on what to feed my baby brother (he is 16 months). He has liked some of your things, so thanks!

I too stumbled accross this forum. I have been vegetarian on and off for my entire life, then this last 7 years I was vegetarian (though i never drank milk or ate anything with cheese) I had chickens as pets and they would lay eggs and I thought "What am I supposed to do with these! We don't even have a rooster! So we made pies.

I would NEVER kill my pet chickens. Recently because of severe food allergies and finding too many things that were "vegetarian" had milk I became a strict vegan. Thank you so much for your Blog! My blog is http://keenzine.blogspot.comI try to talk about how I am labled an animal communicator and vegan issues.

Vegan Represent took over where VMB left off so we are one of the oldest vegan message board on the internet! Per Herbivore's review: "Very supportive, friendly, and respectful of non-vegans, since the forums are public. Those that join must tell their "vegan story" in order to help inspire others. Covers everything from the serious to the trivial. If you choose only one board, this one will probably give you the most mileage because of it's history and good administration."

There are dozens and dozens of great books out there on the subject. For a good handbook on basic vegan nutrition, I would recommend "Becoming Vegan" by Melina and Davis.

If you are transitioning to a plant-based diet primarily to reverse disease and improve your health, I would strongly recommend "Eat To Live" by Fuhrman, or "Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease" by Esselstyn.

There is also a new book out called "Vegan in 30 Days", which I haven't looked at myself.